IRG-AVA Terms of Reference

Terms of
Reference for the ITU Intersector Rapporteur Group on Audiovisual Media
Accessibility (IRG-AVA)

Version: 2013-12-11

1Preamble

WTSA Resolution 18 was revised in WTSA-12
to allow for ITU-R experts to jointly develop work with ITU-T experts in a
group officially recognized by both ITU-R and ITU-T.

The Intersector Rapporteur Group on
Audiovisual Media Accessibility (IRG-AVA) is established in accordance with
Annex C of WTSA-12 Resolution 18 and the corresponding provisions in Resolution
ITU-R 6 (in line with the Conclusions of the Radiocommunication Advisory Group
(RAG) taken at their meeting on 22-24 May 2013, ref. Agenda Item 5 in http://itu.int/en/ITU-R/conferences/rag/Documents/SUMOFCONCLFINAL.docx).

2Objectives

Media
can be delivered by a number of delivery platforms, including over-the-air
broadcasting, cable-casting, IPTV, and Internet. In each case there is an
increasing need for access services, for reasons such as the aging population,
and the growth of literacy. To ensure that unnecessary differences do not hold
back the use of access services, common systems should be used whenever
possible.

The IRG
will thus consider delivery systems currently in the purview of the ITU-R Study
Group 6 and the ITU-T Study Groups 9 and 16).

This IRG will study topics related to
audiovisual media accessibility, aiming at development of Recommendations, and
other non-normative materials, as appropriate.

This IRG will also address matters
contributing to the coordination of the standardization work of the involved
ITU-T and ITU-R groups.

The study areas comprise:

coordination of the progress of specific topics of mutual interest restricted to the area of audiovisual media accessibility including but not exclusively:

identification of potential work items that may be jointly progressed as ITU-T and/or ITU-R Recommendations;

identification of the challenges to interoperability and access service interoperability requirements. Consideration should also be given to testing and other compliance verification mechanisms;

The IRG-AVA will collaborate with other
SDOs, as appropriate, and other audiovisual media organizations (e.g., forums
and consortia, research institutes and academia).

3Relations
within and outside ITU-T and ITU-R

While the primary objective of this IRG is
to foster coordination and collaboration between the parent groups on the IRG
objectives, collaboration with any relevant study group or other relevant
groups is encouraged.

Rapporteur groups of other ITU-T and ITU-R
groups may join this IRG on request and upon agreement of the parent groups.

The IRG may prepare liaison statements to
other groups. The parent groups are to be copied on any such communications.

4Parent
groups

The parent groups of the IRG-AVA are ITU-T
Study Group 16, ITU-T Study Group 9 and ITU-R Study Group 6.

5Leadership

IRG-AVA will be led by a Management Team
composed of three experts, each one being nominated by each of the three parent
groups. This Management Team represents the core team of the IRG and is
expected to expedite the work. Consequently, only persons that have the time
and skills to further the work of the IRG should be nominated member of the
Management Team.

6Participation

Participation is open to members of ITU-T
and ITU-R that can participate in the work of the ITU-T and ITU-R parent
groups. The IRG-AVA Management Team may invite individual experts as
appropriate and in accordance with the rules for parent group meetings of ITU-T
and ITU-R.

A list of participants will be maintained
for reference purposes and reported to the parent groups as an attachment to
the report of each meeting (see clause 9).

7Deliverables

An IRG may draft new or revised
Recommendations, as well as other non-normative materials.

These deliverables, upon consensus within
the IRG, will be submitted to its parent study groups for further consideration
following the rules and practices of the parent group to which the deliverable
is assigned.

IRG-AVA will identify such deliverables and
make pertinent proposals to its parent study groups (see clause 8).

Each parent group will be responsible for
their own Recommendations. Any joint text Recommendations will be approved in a
coordinated manner by the parent groups. Joint texts should as much as possible
be technically aligned.

The results of an IRG's work are to
represent the agreed consensus of the IRG, or reflect the diversity of views of
the participants in the IRG.

8Meetings

The frequency and
location of meetings will be determined by the IRG and the overall meetings
plan should be announced as soon as possible. See also clause 11 "Working
Guidelines" below.

The meetings will be announced by
electronic means (e.g., mailing lists and on the ITU website) at least two
months in advance of the meeting.

The IRG will use remote collaboration tools
to the maximum extent, and when physical meetings are deemed necessary, they
should collocate with other planned physical meetings from which synergies can
be derived (in particular that of the parent groups, of their working parties,
or of related interim rapporteur group meetings).

9Meeting
reports

This IRG shall prepare reports on its
meetings and activities, to be submitted to the next meeting of its parent
study groups. The information in such reports should contain the items listed
in Recommendation ITU‑T A.1 Appendix I.

10Working
language

The working language of this IRG will be
English.

11Working
guidelines

This IRG will work by consensus.

This IRG is regulated by the provisions
applicable to rapporteur groups, given in Resolution ITU‑R 1-6 and in
Recommendation ITU-T A.1 (see also the ITU-T manual for rapporteurs and editors
at http://itu.int/go/ITU-T/REManual).

Additionally, the IRG will follow the
guidelines found in WTSA-12 Resolution 18, Annex C, and in the corresponding
provisions in Resolution ITU-R 6 (in line with the Conclusions of the
Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG) taken at their meeting on 22-24 May
2013).

12Patent
policy

The Common Patent Policy for ITU-T/ITU-R/ISO/IEC shall be used.

13Termination
of the IRG-AVA

The
IRG-AVA will continue until the end of the current ITU-T Study Period
(2013-2016). It may be extended by mutual approval of the parent groups.